Articles on: Collections

Troubleshoot Collections

Troubleshoot Collections


Something not working the way you expected? Here are the most common issues with Collections and how to fix them.


My collection page isn't loading


Try these steps in order:


  1. Hard-refresh the page (Cmd+Shift+R on Mac, Ctrl+Shift+R on Windows) to clear any cached version.


  1. Open the collection link in a private/incognito browser window. If it loads there, a browser extension may be interfering.


  1. Check that the link you're using is the current share link — not one from an old email or bookmark that may have changed.


  1. If you set a custom domain, confirm your DNS records are configured correctly. DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours. Test using your original Simplebooklet link in the meantime.


If the page still won't load, contact Simplebooklet support with your collection URL.



My booklet isn't showing up in the "Add Booklets" panel


Only published booklets appear in the Add Booklets panel. If a booklet is missing:


  1. Go to your Dashboard and locate the booklet.


  1. Make sure it has been shared at least once — this marks it as published.


  1. Return to your collection editor, click Booklets → Add Booklets, and check again.


Booklets created but never shared (drafts) won't appear. Share the booklet first, then add it to the collection.



I added a booklet but it's not showing on my collection page


After adding a booklet, give the page a moment to refresh. If it still doesn't appear:


  1. Close the collection editor and reopen it from the Dashboard.


  1. Check the Booklets tab to confirm the booklet is listed there.


  1. Hard-refresh your collection's public page to clear the browser cache.


If the booklet shows in the editor but not on the live page, wait a minute and try again — there can be a short delay before changes appear publicly.



My collection is showing the wrong booklet order


The order booklets appear on your collection page matches the order in the Booklets tab of the editor. If the order looks off:


  1. Open the collection editor and click the Booklets tab.


  1. Use the drag handle (the grid of dots) to reorder the booklets to your preference.


  1. Reload your collection's public page to see the updated order.



My password isn't working for readers


If readers are entering your password and being denied access:


  1. Double-check the password in Settings → Password Protection. Copy it exactly and test it yourself.


  1. Confirm you clicked Save after setting or changing the password — unsaved changes won't take effect.


  1. Watch for accidental spaces before or after the password when typing it into the field.


  1. If you recently changed the password, make sure all readers have the updated one.


Password protection is case-sensitive. "Summer2025" and "summer2025" are treated as different passwords.



My custom domain isn't working


Custom domain issues almost always come down to DNS configuration. To diagnose:


  1. Confirm the CNAME record in your DNS settings matches exactly what Simplebooklet showed you — both the name and the value.


  1. Check whether your registrar requires you to exclude the root domain from the CNAME name (for example, enter catalog not catalog.yourdomain.com).


  1. Allow up to 48 hours for DNS changes to propagate fully, especially if you set this up recently.


  1. Use a DNS checker tool (like dnschecker.org) to verify your CNAME record is live from multiple locations.


If DNS looks correct but the domain still isn't resolving, contact Simplebooklet support.



My custom slug says it's already taken


Custom slugs must be unique across all Simplebooklet collections. If yours is taken:


  1. Try adding your company name, a year, or a descriptive word to differentiate it.


  1. Keep it short — a 2–3 word slug with hyphens is easier to type and less likely to conflict.



My collection embed isn't displaying on my website


If the embed code isn't rendering:


  1. Make sure your website or CMS platform allows custom HTML embeds. Some platforms (like certain Wix plans or restricted CMSes) block iframes.


  1. Confirm you're pasting the embed code into an HTML block, not a text or rich-text block.


  1. Check that your collection page itself is loading — if the collection is down, the embed will be blank too.


  1. Try resizing the embed dimensions. Very small dimensions (under 300px wide) can cause rendering issues.



Changes I made to my collection aren't saving


  1. Look for a Save button in the section you edited and make sure you clicked it.


  1. Check your internet connection — edits require an active connection to save.


  1. If changes keep reverting, try a different browser or clear your browser's cache and cookies, then try again.



A booklet I deleted is still showing in my collection


Deleting a booklet from your Dashboard removes it from all collections automatically, but there can be a short delay before the collection page reflects the change. Hard-refresh your collection's public page and wait a few minutes.


If the booklet still appears after several minutes, contact Simplebooklet support.



I can't find the Collections tab on my Dashboard


The Collections tab appears at the top of your Dashboard. If you don't see it:


  1. Make sure you're logged in to the correct account.


  1. Try refreshing the page.


  1. Collections are available on all plans — if you're still not seeing the tab, contact Simplebooklet support.



Still stuck?


If none of the above resolved your issue, reach out to Simplebooklet support with:


  • Your collection URL


  • A description of what you expected to happen vs. what happened


  • Your browser and operating system


The support team will be able to dig into the specifics from there.






Updated on: 10/04/2026

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